All posts tagged Shot

The recent measles outbreaks have sparked a national debate over vaccinations and the concept of “herd immunity.” The basic idea behind herd immunity is that “the vaccination of a significant portion of a population provides a measure of protection for individuals who have not developed immunity.”

The concept of “herd immunity” applies to gun ownership and crime rates just as it does to vaccinations and infectious disease.

Crime rates in Chicago dropped dramatically in 2014 after the state of Illinois allowed legal concealed carry.From the Washington Times:

[T]he number of robberies that have led to arrests in Chicago has declined 20 percent from last year, according to police department statistics. Reports of burglary and motor vehicle theft are down 20 percent and 26 percent, respectively. In the first quarter, the city’s homicide rate was at a 56-year low.

As Richard Pearson of the Illinois State Rifle Association observed:

It isn’t any coincidence crime rates started to go down when concealed carry was permitted. Just the idea that the criminals don’t know who’s armed and who isn’t has a deterrence effect. … The police department hasn’t changed a single tactic — they haven’t announced a shift in policy or of course — and yet you have these incredible numbers.

Richard Pearson estimated that 100,000 Illinois residents will have applied for concealed weapons permits in 2014 (out of a total population of 12 million). This works out to approximately 0.8% of the population.

In other words, “the 1%” of concealed weapons permit holders in Illinois have created a measurable benefit for “the 99%.” Not a bad payoff!

In 10 states, more than 8 percent of adults hold concealed carry permits, and all are among the states with the lowest crime rates. Lott claims his group’s analysis shows that each one percentage point increase in the adult population holding permits brings a 1.4 percent drop in the murder rate.

The medical theory of “herd immunity” posits that enough vaccinated individuals in a population can reduce the risk of contracting a disease — even for those who aren’t vaccinated. From the experience in Illinois and around the country, a relatively small number of armed people can similarly reduce the risk of crime — even for those who aren’t armed.

So if you don’t own a gun but you are enjoying safer nights out on the town or sleeping more easily in your bed at night, give a little thanks to your neighbors who are gun owners. You’re the beneficiary of gun “herd immunity.”

Iowa Firearms Coalition is an entirely volunteer, grassroots, Second Amendment advocacy group. Responsible for bringing uniformity to Iowa’s Concealed Weapons Permitting process, IFC’s members work to protect and enhance Second Amendment rights in Iowa. An affiliate of the National Rifle Association, the IFC actively seeks to foster and promote the shooting sports. Sign up for our email listfor the latest on Second Amendment issues in Iowa. You can support our work by becoming a member, or making a donation.

Since I have firearms in a home with 3 small children and I carry on a near daily basis, I did some thinking about how I have my firearms secured, both at home and on my person. I also thought about what I’ve taught, and continue to teach, my children about what to do if they see/find a firearm (anywhere) and about how and what I’m teaching them firearms safety. As usually happens for me, this lead me to doing some research, this time about firearms accidents.

In 2011*, according to the CDC, there were 126, 438 accidental deaths in the United States. These break out as follows:

That’s right. Of the 9 leading causes of accidental deaths…firearms related accidents come in at 9th place, with nearly half the number of deaths of the next lowest cause of accidental deaths and fewer than 1/60 of the number of deaths attributed to the leading cause of accidental deaths.

How many times more likely are you do die from one of the other 8 causes of accidental death than from a firearm accident?

Iowa Firearms Coalition is an entirely volunteer, grassroots, 2nd Amendment advocacy group. Responsible for bringing uniformity to Iowa’s Concealed Weapons Permitting process, IFC’s members work to protect and enhance 2nd Amendment rights in Iowa. An affiliate of the National Rifle Association, the IFC actively seeks to foster and promote the shooting sports. Sign up for our email list for the latest on 2nd Amendment issues in Iowa. You can support our work by becoming a member, or making a donation.

An IFC member poses with two bucks successfully harvested on opening day of Iowa’s 2014 1st shotgun season.

Hunters reported harvesting 19 percent more deer in Iowa during the first three days of first season shotgun deer compared to 2013 when cold weather likely minimized the amount of time hunters spent in the timber. If the harvest trend continues, the first season shotgun harvest would be around 37,000 deer, which is similar to 2012.

The 2014 first season shotgun deer closes on Dec. 10.

A popular season with hunters is a busy weekend for wildlife officials.

“I probably came across 40 deer hunters in northern Benton County Saturday and counted 11 deer that were harvested. Sunday, I came across 20 deer hunters in Tama County and about that many deer were harvested,” he said.

“People had been telling me that deer numbers were pretty much stable compared to last year, but down from 10 years ago,” Reece said.

In nearby Johnson County, State Conservation Officer Erika Billerbeck said she saw 70 hunters through the weekend.

So far, hunters reported harvesting 18 percent more bucks and 7 percent more does than 2013, while purchasing 3,000 few licenses. The license sales decline was primarily due to fewer antlerless licenses begin available, which was by design.

Iowa second season shotgun deer opens December 13 and the unseasonably mild temperatures in the weekend forecast could lead to more hunters having success.

“When the weather is nice, we often see more people out hunting and hunter success rates increase because they spend more time in the field to fill their tags,” said Willie Suchy, wildlife research supervisor with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Information on hunter harvest is one tool used by the DNR to help manage Iowa’s deer herd when it considers seasons and regulation changes. A regulation change for 2014 restricted the deer harvest in 27 counties in northwest Iowa to buck-only during first season shotgun. During the second season shotgun, hunters may harvest any deer in those 27 counties.

Second season shotgun license sales are trending similar to first season – hunters are waiting to the last minute. The DNR expects to sell about 35,000 licenses before Saturday. Second season shotgun closes Dec. 21. Hunters are required to report their harvest.

Iowa Firearms Coalition is an entirely volunteer, grassroots, 2nd Amendment advocacy group. Responsible for bringing uniformity to Iowa’s Concealed Weapons Permitting process, IFC’s members work to protect and enhance 2nd Amendment rights in Iowa. An affiliate of the National Rifle Association, the IFC actively seeks to foster and promote the shooting sports. Sign up for our email list for the latest on 2nd Amendment issues in Iowa. You can support our work by becoming a member, or making a donation.